The Midwest Premier League (MWPL) is an American amateur and semi-professional soccer league. The league spans primarily the eastern and central portions of the

Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

History

The league was founded by four clubs which were all previously members of the

United Premier Soccer League The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The league was found ...

Midwest Conference. Following the 2019 UPSL season, the clubs decided that they could create a stable league that would focus on sustainability of the member clubs by sharing ideas, keeping league costs to a minimum, and maximizing the opportunities for all clubs to compete by limiting end-of-season playoffs that often shorten the season for many teams. The league announced Union Dubuque F.C. as its first member on September 18, 2019, with the other three founding members being announced in the subsequent weeks. RWB Adria joins the MPWL on September 25, 2019. DeKalb County United joins the MWPL on October 2, 2019. Cedar Rapids Inferno join the MWPL on October 9, 2019 making it the Fourth member team. And concludes the joining of the founders. Cliff Conrad has been elected as the league's first president. Conrad is the co-founder and president of Union Dubuque F.C., one of the league's charter members. After a period with no expansion news, FC Diablos of

Normal, Illinois Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 52,736. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area, and Illinois' seventh most ...

was announced on January 10, 2020, and an expansion continues into March. With expansion side

Rockford FC Rockford or Rockfords may refer to: Places United States * Rockford, Illinois, a city, the largest municipality of this name * Rockford, Alabama, a town * Rockford, Idaho, a census-designated place * Rockford metropolitan area, Illinois, a United S ...

being unveiled shortly thereafter on January 30, 2020. Livonia City FC joins the MWPL on Feb. 29th 2020. Lake St.Clair joins the MWPL on March 2, 2020. BiH Grand Rapids joins the MWPL on March 6, 2020. The league was set to kickoff in Spring 2020, however the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The Midwest Premier League appoints Andy Hayes as the league's first Commissioner. On July 27, 2020, the league announced Lansing Common FC from Lansing, Michigan as a new member club. On September 3, 2020, the MWPL entered a partnership agreement with the

National Independent Soccer Association The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a ...

, a USSF Division 3 professional league, which includes pathways for both players and clubs to go fully pro. November kicks off another round of expansions for the league. Starting with Edgewater Castle FC on Nov. 27th 2020. It was announced on March 21, 2022 that the MWPL would have 3 Divisions within it. The schedule for the 2nd season of the league was announced on April 6, 2022 nearly a month ahead of the first game. With Detroit city U23 gone there will be a new champion in the East Division. And with a finalized Southern Division there will now be 3 champions for the 2022 season.

Current teams

Former

Seasons

2021 Fall Season

The first season for the MWPL ended on August 1, 2021

East Division

This division contained 8 teams for the 2021 season. Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential; (C) Champion

Western Division

This division contained 12 teams for the 2021 season. Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential; (C) Champion

2022 Season

The first season with 3 divisions in it.

Eastern Division

This division contained 11 teams for the 2022 season. Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential; (C) Champion

Western Division

This division contained 12 teams for the 2022 season. Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential; (C) Champion

Southern Division

This division contained 4 teams for the 2022 season. Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential; (C) Champion

Division Winners

East Division Winner West Division Winner South Division Winner

Golden Boot winner

The golden boot winners were announced on September 15, 2021.

Notable former players

* Damon Almazan,

Steel City FC Steel City Football Club is the name of a number of association football teams: * Ladies Steel City FC, an American women's association football team, and the sister club of Steel City FC (Illinois), based in Joliet, Illinois * Steel City FC (Illi ...

- 2020, signed in 2021 by

Chicago House AC Chicago House Athletic Club is an American professional men's soccer club owned by Laurence Girard and led by CEO Peter Wilt. The club is based in Chicago, Illinois. They began play in August 2021, competing in the National Independent Soccer ...

* Derek Huffman, RWB Adria - 2020, signed in 2021 by

* Stefan Mijatovic, RWB Adria - 2020, signed in 2021 by

References

{{National Independent Soccer Association Soccer leagues in the United States 2019 establishments in the United States Sports leagues established in 2019 Soccer in Iowa Soccer in Wisconsin Soccer in Illinois Soccer in Michigan